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Grammar detail: 〜ようではないか; 〜ようじゃないか

〜ようではないか; 〜ようじゃないか
let's do ~; why don't we ~
200 words
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#####Grammar Pattern
verb volitional form
+
ではないか
じゃないか
means
let's do ~; why don't we ~
ようではないか is an expression that is used to make a suggestion for, or to encourage 'all' to do a particular action or to take part in a mutual activity. It is often used when the speaker is addressing a large group of people. As such, it is more likely to be encountered in workplaces or at events in contexts where a speaker is trying to encourage a behavior, elicit group action, etc.
In its casual form - 'ではないか/じゃないか', this expression is more common in male speech. Women would be more likely to opt for the polite form (
ていねいご
丁寧語
), using 'ではありませんか'. Men may also use the polite form depending on the context of situation.
#####例文: Example Sentences
この
ろんぎ
論議
はやめようではないか。
Let's put a stop to this discussion.
もう
しょうぶ
勝負
は
き
決
まった
。
おとこ
男
らしく
ばつ
罰
を
う
受
けよ
うではないか。
The jig is up; let's face the music like men.
ここらで
じっぷん
10分
、
きゅうけい
休憩
しよ
うじゃないか。
Let's take a 10-minute break.
げんじつ
現実
を
ちょくし
直視
しよ
うじゃないか。
Let's face the facts!
ようではないか is not an everyday expression. In regular conversations with friends, colleagues, relatives, etc., the standard volitional form would be used and よ would perhaps be added to the end for emphasis.
今食事しているから後で話し合いましょうよ。Where eating now, so let's discuss it after.
楽しそうだから行ってみようよ。It sounds fun, so let's just go and see!
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Kanji used in this grammar

丁
チョウ   テイ    a (city) block; counter for long/narrow things, blocks of tofu   
寧
ネイ    preferable, rather; peaceful, quiet   
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語
ゴ   かたる to talk, relate   かたらう to talk together, chat   
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例
レイ   example   たとえる to illustrate, to compare   たとえば for example   
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文
ブン   モン    literature   ふみ a letter   
今
コン   キン   いま now   
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食
ショク   ジキ    food   たべる to eat   くう to eat   
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事
ジ   ズ   こと thing; matter   
後
ゴ   コウ   のち    あと afterwards   うしろ behind   おくれる be late   
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話
ワ   はなす to talk   はなし talking   
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合
ゴウ   ガッ   カッ   あう to fit, come together   あわす to match   あわせる to unite, join   
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楽
ガク   ラク    music   たのしい happy, pleasant   たのしむ to be happy   
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行
コウ   ギョウ   アン   ゆく    いく to go   おこなう to take place   
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論
ロン    thesis, argument, discussion   
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議
ギ    deliberation   
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勝
ショウ   かつ to win   まさる to be better than   
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負
フ   まかす to defeat   まける to be defeated   おう to carry (on one's back)   
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決
ケツ   きめる to decide   きまる to be decided   
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男
ダン   ナン   おとこ male, man   
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罰
バツ   バチ    punishment, penalty   
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受
ジュ   うける to receive, to accept   うかる to pass (an exam)    
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分
ブン   ブ   フン   わける to divide, to distinguish   わかる to understand   わかれる to be divided   わかつ to share, distribute   
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休
キュウ   やすむ to rest   やすまる to be rested   やすめる to suspend (use etc.)   
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憩
ケイ   いこう to relax   いこい relaxation   
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現
ゲン    present   あらわれる to appear   あらわす to show   
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実
ジツ    fruit; reality   み fruit, nut   みのる to bear fruit   
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直
チョク   ジキ    honest; direct   なおす to correct   なおる to be cured   ただちに immediately   
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視
シ    seeing   
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